Pipe wrapping machine



2 Sheets-Shee 1 R. G. ROBERTS 'PIPE wRAPPmG` MACHINE Filed oct. 21, 1932rllllllll Feb. 2, 1937.

ATTORNEY Feb. l2, 1937. l R. G. ROBERTS 2,069,539

PIPE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed' Oct. 2l, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR R.G. ROBERTS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, '1937 i i l,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE WRAPPING MACHINE Robert GregoryRoberts, Kansas City, Mo., as-

signor to The Barrett Company, New York, N. Y.,a corporation of NewJersey Application October 21, 1932, Serial No. 638,891

4 Claims. (Cl. 242-11) This invention relates to apparatus for placingIn the drawings:

a protective covering on pipes or'other tubular Fig. 1 is a plan view ofa pipe wrapping maarticles hereinafter referred to as pipes and eschineembodying this invention; pecially relates to a machine for Wrappingpro- Fig. 2- is a side elevation of the apparatus of 5 tecting materialsuch as btumenor resin-sat- Fig. 1; 5 urated felt or paper or oth'ertypes of saturated Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the carriage orunsaturated ilexible shields spirally around frame, guide bar's, andidler wheels; 8 Dipe- Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing one type of Oneobject of the invention is to provide a driving mechanism .of a rollingrig for rotating 10 pipe'wrapping machine of. relatively simple dethepipe; 10 sign and construction which can be manufactured Fig. 5 is aside elevationef the apparatus showat a minimum cost. ing an alternatemethod of construction;

Another object of the inventionis to provide Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryside'elevation of a pipe a compact, durable machine of light weightWrapping machine showing a modified support which is economical tooperate and which can for the wrapping material; and 5 1-5 readily beadjusted to accommodate different Fig. 7 is an end elevation of. theapparatus of size pipes and wrap them with different amounts Fig. 6. ofoverlap between contiguous windings. The pipe Wrapping machine of thisinvention Another object of the invention is to provide comprises asemi-circular carriage or frame I a compact machine which does notrevolve composed of side angle-bars 2, 3, joined by cross- 20 around thepipe but travels longitudinally along members 4. Mounted on the frameare idler the top thereof and thus eliminates the necessity Wheels 5which Contact With il Pip@ 6, the Weight of jacking up the pipe to anyconsiderable height of the carriage being thus carried by the pipe.during the wrapping operation to provide the The pipe 6 on which thecarriage rests is itself necessary clearance beneath the pipe to permitsupported and rotated by rolling rigs l herein- 25 the machine rotatingaround the pipe to pass after more fully described. As the pipe isrothereunder. Y tated the movement of the pipe surface past the Otherobjects and advantages will appear from contacting idler wheels 5, whoseaxes of rotation the following detailed description of this invenmay beset at an angle to the axis of the. pipe,

tion. causes the carriage, which may be held in a hori- 30 InV thelaying of pipe lines, especially'underzontal position on the pipe by theoperator, to ground lines, it is customary to apply a protecmovelongitudinally along the pipe. This lontive coating and wrapping to thepipes to prevent gitudinal movement of the carriage and therotacorrosion and rapid deterioration. Heretofore the tion of the pipe.Cause Wrapping material 3 t0 be A apparatus employed for Wrapping pipeinvolved unwound from spool 9 and to be spirally Wrapped 35 a circularmachine which was fitted onto the around the pip-e. The spool is held onan extenpipe and then rotated aroundv it. In employing sion of spindleIIJ, which is supported on the carsuch apparatus the pipe mustnecessarily be riage. l jacked up to a considerable height to allow ASShown in Fig. 3, the idler Wheels 5 are 00n- 40 ample clearance beneaththe pipe for the pasnected to the semi-circular angle-bars 2 and 3 40sage of the wrapping machine thereunder during of the carriage by meansof guide bars II v'vhieh` its rotation. The jacking of the pipe involvesextend radially inward from the angle bars. Two larduous andtime-consuming labor. brackets or clamps I2 are provided on each angleIn this invention the pipe is merely placed on bar 2 or 3, in theneighborhood of the extremities a rolling rig or other apparatus forrotating the thereof. The guide bars II, which are prefer- 45 Pipe andis Wrapped by a simple machine which ably L-shaped, are sldably mountedin clamps does not revolve about `the pipe but merely rests I2 and maybe secured in adjusted position by on it. The rotation of the pipeimparts a lonytightening bolts I3 passing through the ciamps. gitudinalmovement to thewrapping machine, the These clamps and guide bars permitthe adjustwrappingmaterial `being fed to the pipe and ment of the idlerwheels toward or away from 50 Aspirally Wrapped thereabout. theangle-bars to suit the size of the pipe being For a betterunderstandingv of the invention, wrapped. rIhus, one size machine can beutilized reference should be made to the accompanying for wrappingseveral sizes of pipe; as, for ex- Idrawings, wherein is shown, by Wayof illustraample, one machine may be made suitable for tion, a preferredembodiment of the invention. wrapping pipe oi', I0. I2, und I4inchdiaineter; 55

' another larger machine may be adapted to wrap pipe of I6, I8, and 20inch diameter, etc. Graduations may be provided on the guide bars sothat the exact settings for various sizes of pipe can readilybe made.

The wheels 5, which are preferably rubber tired, are mounted in supportsor yokes I4 pivotally secured to the extensions of the guide bars.

This permits a pivotal adjustment 0I supports I4 and the idler wheels 5relative to the guide bars. To obtain the same overlap betweencontiguous windings with different size pipe, it is necessary to adjustthe angular position of wheels 5 with respect to the longitudinal axisof the pipe. In accordance with this invention, any desired setting topermit the wrapping of different size pipes with substantially the sameoverlap between contiguous windings can easily be made by matchingindicators I5 on the wheel supports or yokes I4 with the angulargraduation I5' at the bases of the guide bars II (Fig. 3). Thelongitudinal movement of the carriage with respect to the rotation ofthe pipe is governed by the setting of these idler wheels; the greaterthe pitch or angle between the axisv of the pipe and the axes of thewheels, the greater will be the relative longitudinal movement.

The spool 9 of wrapping material, which may be felt, foil, paper, etc.is held in place on an extension of the spindle IU projecting from oneside of the carriage frame, by guide discs I6 and spindle. Moreover, thetautness or tension of the ing and the universal joint 2I permit theangular wrapping material between the pipe and the spool can be changedand regulated merely by turning the hand-wheel 20 which, through thecompression spring I9, governs the pressure of the guide disc I1 againstthe spool.

The spindle I0, which holds the spool of wrapping material, is composedof two sections III-I0 held together by the universal joint 2I, and isIsupported from the carriage frame by the clamps 22. As shown, the clampscomprise bases 23 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to thecarriage frame. Spindle supports 24 are pivotably mounted on the bases23 by means of pins 40 extending through ases 23.' Pivotably mounted inthe spindle supports 24 are bearings 25, through which the spindlespass. This mountadjustment of the `spindle extension carrying the spoolof wrapping material in all planes. The necessary -angular setting ofthe extension required by operating conditions (e. g. size of pipe,width of shield and amount of overlap) may be rigidly fixed by means ofset screws 26 engaging pins 4I) and set screws 21 engaging the spindlesections or equivalent clamping device.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the spindle is shown in one position. It will be notedthat the spindle may be adjusted in both vertical and, horizontalplanes, Ithe preferable setting in both planes being vde-` pendent uponthe size of the-pipe being wrapped and the amount of overlap betweencontiguous layers of wrapping desired. The wrapping material shouldleave the spool in a direction substantially perpendicular to thedirection of the axis ofthe spool. Fig. 5 shows an alternate type ofapparatus in which the spindle used for holding the wrapping issuspended under the carriage frame rather than above it as shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

Figures 6 and 7 show a modified construction for supporting the wrappingmaterial on the machine. The spool 9 of wrapping material is held inplace on a spindle 40 supported at both ends by a frame 4I. This frameis in turn supported from angle bar 2 by a suitable bracket 42 rivetedor otherwise secured to the angle bar. A universal joint 43 of the balland socket type may be employed to rigidly x the frame 4I and spindle 40in any desired position. Set vclamp 44 of the universal joint may beused to lock the assembly in the desired position. Although theuniversal joint is shown in the drawings as aball and split-socketjoint, other types of universal joints could be used. As the wrappingmaterial 8 is unwound from the spool it passes through a set of tensionrollers 45 suitably sup? ported from frame 4I. The pressure of therollers on the wrapping material can be adjusted by means of spring 46conned in casing 41 and pressing against the bearing block in which oneof the rollers 45 is mounted and adjusting screw 48 which regulates thepressure exerted by the' spring. Thus any desired tension on thewrapping material being fed to the pipe can be obtained.

Fig. 4 shows a hand-actuated rolling rig 1I `which may be used forsupporting the pipe and imparting a rotary movement to it. The piperests at both ends on the rollers 29 and 30 which are mounted insupports 3| and 32, respectively. Rollers 30, at the right end of Fig.2, are mounted on shafts having keyed thereon the sprocket wheels 33(Fig. f1). As thecrank 34, on a shaft having the sprocket 35 keyedthereon, is turned,

the sprocket chain 36 is moved, driving the,v

sprocket wheels 33, causing the rollers 30 and pipe 6 to rotate.Although this-particular rolling rig is herein shown, any other suitablehandor machine-actuated mechanism for rotating the pipe may be used, as,for example, belts passing,

over pulleys and carrying the pipe may be substituted for the flangedrollers and one set of pulleys driven to rotate the pipe.

In operation, the guide bars I I and idler wheels 5 are adjusted throughthe guide bar clamps I2 to suit the size xof pipe to be wrapped. Theidler wheel supports I4 are also adjusted pivotally relative to theguide bars to regulate the pitch of the vidler wheels and so govern thelongitudinal movement of the carriage and the amount of overlap ofcontiguous windings. The machine or carriage is then placed in a saddlefashion on the pipe to be wrapped, which is supported on a suitablerolling rig,

The wrapping material 8, which may first be wrapped aroundl the pipeonce or twice by hand to hold it in place when the wrapping operation'is begun, is then adjusted on th'e spindle III. By

adjusting the spindle through the universal jointA 2I, universal spindleclamps 22' and set screws" mitting the material to be applied to thepipe surface with the desired tightness. 'I'he carriage is ist byholdingthe cross-bars 4, and the pipe is made to rotate on the rollingrig. The movement of the pipe past the contacting idler wheels, whichare set at a pitch, causes the machine to move longitudinally along thepipe. The rotary motion of the pipe and longitudinal movement of thecarriage carrying the wrapping material causes the material to bespirally wound around the pipe, the pitch of the spiral beingsubstantially thesame as the pitch at which the idler wheels are set.The idler Vwheels -in passing over the wrapping directly as it isapplied exert pressure thereon v4and thus eliminate unevenness orWrinkles in thewrapping. As the carriage moves along the pipe, the menwho are carrying out the operation walk along also and hold it'horizontally on the pipe. In stopping the wrapping operation therotation of the pipe is discontinued, the wrapping material is severedbetween the pipe and the roll, and the machine is lifted off the pipe.Alternatively mechanical means, such as guide rods, may be provided toprevent rotation of the Wrapping mechanism without limiting itslongitudinal movement, thereby allowing it to travel along the pipe whenthe latter is rotated.

It is evident that the apparatus of 4this invention makes the pipewrapping operation coinparatively simple to perform. It alsopermits theoperation to be carried out simultaneously with a pipe coating proceduresince the rolling rigs which are used for rotating. the pipes during thecoating procedure will also serve to supply the motive power necessaryfor the wrapping operation.

Under certain conditions in the field a prefer-red method of applyingwrapping in accordance with this invention is to apply an unbondedwrapping, that is, one that is not cemented to or bonded with coating onthe pipe. When some types of shields and Ienamels are used, abrasion,shearing, or puncture of unbonded wrapping is less likely to result inscarring or removal of the enamel than if the wrapping is bonded withsuch coating.

Coating material, such as uid bitumen, may be poured onto the top of thepipe, while the pipe is rotating, by one or more operators moving alongthe pipe. In applying unbonded wrapping, the wrapping machine shouldfollow the coating gang at such an interval as to give the enamel timeto set before application of the wrapping. When a bituminous coating,such as the pitch composition of Eckert Patent 1,773,131, is used, it isapplied to the pipe hot and molten. The body of the pipe rapidly absorbsand disperses the heat of the coating, th`erebyl causing it to solidifyand set very rapidly. UnderT such conditions the wrapping apparatus maybe made to followclosely the coating gang, even in the Iapplication ofunbonded wrapping.

When conditions make it desirable to apply'a bonded wrapping, theapparatus should be used immediately following the coating operation,the

Asetting of the coating causing the wrapping to adhere firmly to thepipe and bond with the coating thereon. In the application of a bondedwrapping a slower setting enamel or other coating is advantageouslyused. v

In connection with the foregoing description and illustration of theconstruction and operation of this invention, it should be understoodthat these are merely for the purpose of clarifying an understandingthereof; Although as described the carriage may be held on the pipe byhand, an outrigger wheel or wheels may be secured to the frame, therebymaking it unnecessary for the operator to hold the machine. Otherpossible modifications include the use of a greater or lesser number offriction wheels than shown in the drawings or the placement of the spoolof wrapj ping material on the spindle between the anglebars rather Athan on the spindle extension. Various modiiications of the forms andarrangements of the parts may be made without departing from thisinvention.

It will be noted that the wrapping machine of this invention is simple,compact, inexpensive to construct and operate, and is movablelongitudinally of the pipe but is not rotated about the pipe. of jackingand removing pipe from the jacks necessary with prior existing pipewrapping machines which wererotated about the pipe. Further, due to theadjustable mounting of th wheels 5 and the spindle containing the Wrap--ping material, diierent size pipes may be wrapped with the same amountof overlap between contiguous windings and the amount of overlap betweencontiguous windings on the pipe may be adjusted as desired with one andthe same wrapping machine.

I claim:

1. A pipe wrapping machine comprising a car- Hence, it eliminates thedifficulties riage adapted to be placed on a rotating pipe,

wheels supported from the frame of said carriage contacting with thepipe and supporting the carriageon the pipe, means for rotating thepipe, a. spindle mounted at the top of they frame of said carriage andsupported on opposite sides of the carriage, said spindle having anextension projecting from one side of the carriage frame and providing asupport for the wrapping may terial,- the portion of said spindlebetween said opposite sides of the carriage being jointed to permitangular adjustment of the projecting portion.

2. A wrapping machine comprising a carriage, rotatably and pivotallyadjustable bearings mounted. on opposite sides of the carriage, aspindle comprising two sections joined together by a universal joint,said spindle being supportedon the carriage by the adjustable bearingswhich engage the spindle on both sides of the universal joint, onesection of the spindle having an extension for maintaining a supply Vofwrapping material. i I

f 3. A wrapping machine comprising a carriage, rotatably yadjustablebearings mounted on opposite sides of the carriage, a spindle comprisinga pair of sections connected together by a joint,

said spindle being supported on the carriage by the adjustable bearingswhich engage the spin- H dle on opposite sides of the joint, one sectionof the spindle being adapted to hold a supply of wrapping material. y

4. A wrapping machine comprising a carriage, pivotally adjustablebearings mounted on opposite sides of the carriage, a spindle comprisinga pair ofsections connected together by a joint;

said spindle being supported on the carriage by the adjustable bearingswhich engage the spindle on opposite sides of the joint, one .section ofthe spindle being adapted to `hold,a supply of wrapping material. I

' ROBERT GREGORY ROBERTS.

